CA1192265A - Turntable drive for a microwave oven - Google Patents
Turntable drive for a microwave ovenInfo
- Publication number
- CA1192265A CA1192265A CA000409744A CA409744A CA1192265A CA 1192265 A CA1192265 A CA 1192265A CA 000409744 A CA000409744 A CA 000409744A CA 409744 A CA409744 A CA 409744A CA 1192265 A CA1192265 A CA 1192265A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- support
- cavity
- food
- microwave oven
- motor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
- H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
- H05B6/6408—Supports or covers specially adapted for use in microwave heating apparatus
- H05B6/6411—Supports or covers specially adapted for use in microwave heating apparatus the supports being rotated
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
- H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Electric Ovens (AREA)
Abstract
TURNTABLE DRIVE FOR A MICROWAVE OVEN
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A turntable drive for a microwave oven having a flexible shaft driven by the fan motor of the generator.
The flexible shaft is connected to a mechanism carrying the food support. The operation of the mechanism by the shaft causes the support to have a desired movement in the oven cavity, which includes both lateral translation and rotation of the support. Structure is included permitting the manual movement of the support for facilitated placement of the food thereon by the user. The mechanism and support are mounted to a carrier which is slidably mounted for selective positioning within the oven cavity and forwardly therefrom as for placement of food on the support.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A turntable drive for a microwave oven having a flexible shaft driven by the fan motor of the generator.
The flexible shaft is connected to a mechanism carrying the food support. The operation of the mechanism by the shaft causes the support to have a desired movement in the oven cavity, which includes both lateral translation and rotation of the support. Structure is included permitting the manual movement of the support for facilitated placement of the food thereon by the user. The mechanism and support are mounted to a carrier which is slidably mounted for selective positioning within the oven cavity and forwardly therefrom as for placement of food on the support.
Description
TURNTABLE DRIVE FOR A MICROWAVE OVEN
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to microwave ovens and in particular to means for moving the support during operation of the microwave generating means so as to provlde uniform distribution of the microwave energy in the food being heated.
Description of the Background Art In the conventional microwave oven, a microwave energy generator delivers the microwave energy through a wave guide into a top portion of the oven for distribution throughout the oven cavity onto the food to be heated there-in. A problem arises in that the distribution of the micro-wave energy from such a wave guide is not uniform and uneven heating of the food results.
One attempted solution to the problem is to provide a stirrer in the path of the microwave energy as it enters the oven cavity. The stirrer comprises means for reflecting ; 20 the microwave energy at differen-t angles as the stirrer is rotated in the path of the microwave energy. Another at-tempted solution to the problem has been to provide a rotat-able turntable which is driven during the oven operation so that the food being heated is selectively positioned in dif-ferent portions of the cavity for receiving the nonuniformly distributed microwave energy therein.
One form of microwave oven having a rotatable turn table is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 4,131,778 of Junzo Tanalca et al. As shown therein, a wheel is driven by a belt from a drive motor. The wheel is provided with magnetic ~ ' PA~5132-0~RN-US~
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- coupling means for rotating the rotary table for supporting the food to be cooked in the oven.
In U. S. Le-t-ters Patent No. 4,210,794 of Ichiro Oguri, a microwave oven is shown wherein a drive motor drives a mechanism for rotating the turntable.
Another form of rotatable food heatlng device is lllustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No. 3,7~4,~03 of John Castronuovo. As shown therein, the appliance is arranged to toast marshmallows by means of a horizontal turntable carrying upright picks which are slowly rotated as the turntable turns so that all sides of the marshmallows are faced to the oven heating element during the toasting operation.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
The present lnvention comprehends an improved micro-wave oven structure wherein a flexible shaft is driven at one end from the motor driving the fan for cooling the microwave energy generator. The opposite end of the flexible shaft is connected to a mechanism which moves the food supports during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried thereon.
The mechanism effects both lateral translation of the support and concurrent rotation thereof.
The mechanism, in one illustrated embodiment, causes a translation of the support in a substantially straight-sided closed path In the illustrated embodiment, the structure further includes means for selectively manually positioning the sup-port for facilitated placement of food thereon and subsequent movement by the shaft-driven mechanism.
The selective positioning means in the illustrated 6~
embodiment effectively comprises a one-way clutch connecting the support to the mechanism.
In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanism and support are mounted on a carrier which, in turn, is mounted for selective movement from and into the cavity, with the flexible shaft distal end freely moving therewith.
In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier mounting means comprises a slide means.
The flexible shaft effectively connects the drive motor disposed outside the microwave oven cavity to the turn-table support disposed within the cavity and permits a wide range of movement of the support both within the cavity and selectively inwardly and outwardly of the cavi.ty.
The microwave oven structure of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing a highly improved uniform heating of food in the oven cavity by novel movement of the support means therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGURE 1 iS a fragmentary perspective view of a microwave oven having an improved driven food support embody-ing the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary hoxizontal section illus-trating the selective positioning of the turntable within the oven cavity and in a forwardly disposed access position, with the flexible shaft of the drive means illustrated in the dif-ferent positions assumed in the selective positioning of the t~rntable;
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FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the turn-table with portions broken away;
FIG~RE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded view of a modified form of oven structure providing a unique movement thereof in the oven cavity;
FIGURE 7 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the path of movement of the support of the embodiment of Figure 6;
FIGURE 8 is a plan view illustrating another portion of the path of movement thereof; and FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical enlarged section taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 7.
~ESCRIPTION OF THE P~EFFRRED EMBODIMENTS
In the exemplary em~odiment of the invention as dis-closed in Figures 1-5 of the drawing, a microwave oven gener-ally designated 10 is shown to include a cabinet 11 definingan oven cavity 12 in which food products and the li.ke are placed to be heated. Microwave energy is delivered to the oven cavity from a microwave generator generally designated 13 in Figure 3 of conventional construction housed in a machin-ery portion 14 of the cabinet. The machinery portion is pro-vided with s~itable manual controls, such as control 15, for controlling the operation of the generator in effecting the heating of objects placed in the oven cavity.
The apparatus is further provided with a blower, or fan, 16 which is driven by a suitable electric motor 17 for cooling the generator in the operation of the oven.
A food support~ or turntable, 18 is provided within the oven cavity for supporting food and the like to be heated by subjection thereof to the microwave energy delivered into the cavity from generator 13 in the normal operation of the oven. As seen in Figure 1, turntable 18 is mounted to a carrier, or shelf, 19 which is slidably mounted in horizontal guides or mounting means 33 (only one shown) mounted to both sides 12a and 12b wi-thin the oven cavity so that the turntable is selectively disposed in a hea-ting disposition fully within the cavity, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 2, or in a forwardly disposed access positlon, as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 2. In the access position, a lower portion 30 of the oven cavity 12 is exposed. This lower portion provides for microwave propogation through the lower side of the tray 19 into the food supported thereon and also houses drive mechanism 27 depending from the turntable as hereinafter explained. The turntable is accessible to the user for facilitated placement of food products and the like on the turntable in the access position as best seen in Figure 1.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the side edges 32 of the carrier are slidably received in the channel like guides 33 for facilitated selective disposition of the carrier. Because the drive mechanism depends from the tray 19 into lower portion 30, the tray is not extendable out of the cavity beyond the position shown wherein the depending mechanism 27 contacts a front wall 30 of the lower cavity portion.
The invention comprehends a novel means for driving the turntable so as to rotate the turntable during the heating operation. More specifically, as best seen in Figure 3, the turntable 18 is driven by means of a flexible shaft, or sheathed cable, 20, preferably nonmetallic, having one end 21 connected -to a speed-reducing gear unit 22 which, in turn, is driven by the fan motor 17. The other or distal end 23 of -the flexible shaft is connected by conventional means for corotation with a drive gear 24 which meshes with peripheral teeth 25 of a drive plate 26 of a drive mechanism generally designated 27.
A hub portion 28 of a drive plate 26 extends through an opening l9a in shelf 19. Mounted in the hub portion 28 of the drive plate 26 is a one-way clutch 29 of conventional constxuction, to which is connected a depending pin 3~ of the turntable 18. A snap ring or the like device 28a retains the hub portion 28 in opening l9a of carrier 19. The turn--table is slidably supported on the hub portion 28. As best seen in Figure 3, the edges 32 of the carrier extend upwardly to adjacent,the upper surface of the turntable so that the turntable is effectively recessed in the carrier.
As further shown in Figure 3, the distal end 23 of the flexible shaft is mounted to the carrier by means of a connector 34 which underlies the carrier and engages a depend ing boss 35 on the carrier. The connector 34 may be formed as an intergral part of the cable sheath. Thus, as seen in Figure 2, the flexible shaft distal end 23 moves with the carrier between the heating and access positions, with the flexible shaft freely accommodating this movement. Connector 34 secures the distal end of the shaft to the carrier so that a positive engagement is maintained between the shaft 23 and gear 24. A snap ring 31 maintains the relative engagement of the tooth edge portion 25 of the gear plate 26 with drive gear 24.
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One-way clutch 29 permits the user to rotate the turntable when in the access position to facilitate placement and removal of the food product on the turntable.
When the turntable is returned to the full line position oE Figure 2 inside the oven cavi-ty 12 and upon movement of the cabinet door D to the closed position thereacross, control 15 may be operated to effect energization of the generator and initiation of the heating operation. ~t this time, the operation of fan motor 17 is automatically initiated so that the turn-table is driven throuyh the flexible shaft 20 to effect improved uniform heating of the food product placed on the turntable.
Referring now to the ernbodiment of Figures 4 and 5, a microwave oven structure 110 includes a modified form of mechanism gererally designated 127 for driving a turntable 118 is shown to comprise an intermediate table 136 provided with a drive pin 130 driven through one-way clutch means 29 by hub portion 28 of the gear plate 26. The intermediate table is provided with suitable peripherai wheels 137 on which ~he turntable 118 rests. As further illustrated in Figure 5, the turntable is provided with a depending central post 138 extending through an opening 139 in the center of the intermediate table 136. Pin 130 is spaced radially from the post 138 and, thus, the turntable is caused to concurrently rotate about the axis of pin 130 while revolving thereabout as a result of the eccentric disposition of the connecting post 138 relative to the axis of pin 130. This action is best seen in Figure 4 wherein the broken circle 140 illustrates the path of movement of the post 138 about the axis oE the pin 130.
The resultant eccentric movement of the turntable is illustrated in broken lines 141 and 142 in Figure 4.
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Referring now to the embodiment of Figures 6-9, a microwave oven structure 210 includes a food support 218 comprising a rectangular tray. The tray is movably supported on -two palrs of rollers 243 and 243' at the side edges of 244 and 245 of a wheel frame generally designated 246.
Frame 246, in turn, is supported on a shelf or carrier 247sl~deable in horizontal gui~es 33 by two additional pairs of rollers 248 and 249 at the front edge 250 and rear edge 251, respectively, of the frame.
ShelE 247 is provided with a pair of spaced, parallel, upstanding L-shaped guides 252 and 253, which cooperate with complementary projecting slides 254 and 255 on the front edge 250 and rear edge 251 of the frame 246 to define a guide means for limiting the movement of the frame 246 to a reciprocal movement parallel to the front edge 250 and rear edge 251 of the frame. Thus, the wheel frame 246 acts as a truck for carrying the table support 218 for transverse reciprocal movement on the baseplate 247 in an effectively recti.linear transverse path.
As further seen in Figure 6, support 218 is nrovided with a pair of depending L-shaped guides 256 and 257 which cooperate with projecting slides 258 and 259 on the side edges 244 and 245, respectivel.y, of the truck frame 246 to defin~
guide means for limiting movement of the support plate 218 to reciprocal movement parallel to the longitudinal extent of the side edges 244 and 245 perpendicular to the movement of the truck frame on the baseplate, as discussed above.
Movement of the support plate in the oven cavity is effected by the revolution o F a crank pin 260 about the rotational axis 261 of a crank 262. The crank pin projects PA-513~-0-R~-USA
into a downwardly opening recess 263 defined by an annular wall 264 depending from the underside of the support pla-te 218. The crank pin 260 comprises a roller which rolls about the inside surface of the annular wall, as shown i.n Figures 7, 8 and 9. The path of movement of the roller crank pin 260 is illustrated in the broken line circle 265 of Figures 7 and 8. As the movement of the truck frame 246 is constrained by the cooperating guides 252, 253 and slides 254 and 255, and the movement of the support plate on the truck frame is constrained by the coaction of the guides 256 and 257 and slides 258 and 259, the movement of the support plate relative to the baseplate 247 is effectively polygonal, and more specifically, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, defines a square movement path, as illustrated by the arrows 266 in Figure 7 and 267 in Figure 8.
Thus, a large object, such as a fowl or the like, to be cooked in the oven cavi-ty may be placed diagonally on the support table 218, with the polygonal movement of the support table effecting uniform heating thereof in a novel and simple manner.
As described before, the rotation of crank 262 may be effected in a manner similar to the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 by connection thereof to the distal end of the flexible shaft for improved facilitated driving of the support table and sliding movement of the shelf 247.
Each of the oven structures 10, 110 and 210 provides an improved table suppoxt movement in the oven cavity.
Structures of embodiments 110 and 210 which are similar to structures of embodiment 10 are identified by similar refer-ence numerals but 100 respectively higher. Except as dis-
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention This invention relates to microwave ovens and in particular to means for moving the support during operation of the microwave generating means so as to provlde uniform distribution of the microwave energy in the food being heated.
Description of the Background Art In the conventional microwave oven, a microwave energy generator delivers the microwave energy through a wave guide into a top portion of the oven for distribution throughout the oven cavity onto the food to be heated there-in. A problem arises in that the distribution of the micro-wave energy from such a wave guide is not uniform and uneven heating of the food results.
One attempted solution to the problem is to provide a stirrer in the path of the microwave energy as it enters the oven cavity. The stirrer comprises means for reflecting ; 20 the microwave energy at differen-t angles as the stirrer is rotated in the path of the microwave energy. Another at-tempted solution to the problem has been to provide a rotat-able turntable which is driven during the oven operation so that the food being heated is selectively positioned in dif-ferent portions of the cavity for receiving the nonuniformly distributed microwave energy therein.
One form of microwave oven having a rotatable turn table is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 4,131,778 of Junzo Tanalca et al. As shown therein, a wheel is driven by a belt from a drive motor. The wheel is provided with magnetic ~ ' PA~5132-0~RN-US~
~ ~ 2J~ ~
- coupling means for rotating the rotary table for supporting the food to be cooked in the oven.
In U. S. Le-t-ters Patent No. 4,210,794 of Ichiro Oguri, a microwave oven is shown wherein a drive motor drives a mechanism for rotating the turntable.
Another form of rotatable food heatlng device is lllustrated in U. S. Letters Patent No. 3,7~4,~03 of John Castronuovo. As shown therein, the appliance is arranged to toast marshmallows by means of a horizontal turntable carrying upright picks which are slowly rotated as the turntable turns so that all sides of the marshmallows are faced to the oven heating element during the toasting operation.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
The present lnvention comprehends an improved micro-wave oven structure wherein a flexible shaft is driven at one end from the motor driving the fan for cooling the microwave energy generator. The opposite end of the flexible shaft is connected to a mechanism which moves the food supports during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried thereon.
The mechanism effects both lateral translation of the support and concurrent rotation thereof.
The mechanism, in one illustrated embodiment, causes a translation of the support in a substantially straight-sided closed path In the illustrated embodiment, the structure further includes means for selectively manually positioning the sup-port for facilitated placement of food thereon and subsequent movement by the shaft-driven mechanism.
The selective positioning means in the illustrated 6~
embodiment effectively comprises a one-way clutch connecting the support to the mechanism.
In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanism and support are mounted on a carrier which, in turn, is mounted for selective movement from and into the cavity, with the flexible shaft distal end freely moving therewith.
In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier mounting means comprises a slide means.
The flexible shaft effectively connects the drive motor disposed outside the microwave oven cavity to the turn-table support disposed within the cavity and permits a wide range of movement of the support both within the cavity and selectively inwardly and outwardly of the cavi.ty.
The microwave oven structure of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing a highly improved uniform heating of food in the oven cavity by novel movement of the support means therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIGURE 1 iS a fragmentary perspective view of a microwave oven having an improved driven food support embody-ing the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary hoxizontal section illus-trating the selective positioning of the turntable within the oven cavity and in a forwardly disposed access position, with the flexible shaft of the drive means illustrated in the dif-ferent positions assumed in the selective positioning of the t~rntable;
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FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the turn-table with portions broken away;
FIG~RE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;
FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded view of a modified form of oven structure providing a unique movement thereof in the oven cavity;
FIGURE 7 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the path of movement of the support of the embodiment of Figure 6;
FIGURE 8 is a plan view illustrating another portion of the path of movement thereof; and FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical enlarged section taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 7.
~ESCRIPTION OF THE P~EFFRRED EMBODIMENTS
In the exemplary em~odiment of the invention as dis-closed in Figures 1-5 of the drawing, a microwave oven gener-ally designated 10 is shown to include a cabinet 11 definingan oven cavity 12 in which food products and the li.ke are placed to be heated. Microwave energy is delivered to the oven cavity from a microwave generator generally designated 13 in Figure 3 of conventional construction housed in a machin-ery portion 14 of the cabinet. The machinery portion is pro-vided with s~itable manual controls, such as control 15, for controlling the operation of the generator in effecting the heating of objects placed in the oven cavity.
The apparatus is further provided with a blower, or fan, 16 which is driven by a suitable electric motor 17 for cooling the generator in the operation of the oven.
A food support~ or turntable, 18 is provided within the oven cavity for supporting food and the like to be heated by subjection thereof to the microwave energy delivered into the cavity from generator 13 in the normal operation of the oven. As seen in Figure 1, turntable 18 is mounted to a carrier, or shelf, 19 which is slidably mounted in horizontal guides or mounting means 33 (only one shown) mounted to both sides 12a and 12b wi-thin the oven cavity so that the turntable is selectively disposed in a hea-ting disposition fully within the cavity, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 2, or in a forwardly disposed access positlon, as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 2. In the access position, a lower portion 30 of the oven cavity 12 is exposed. This lower portion provides for microwave propogation through the lower side of the tray 19 into the food supported thereon and also houses drive mechanism 27 depending from the turntable as hereinafter explained. The turntable is accessible to the user for facilitated placement of food products and the like on the turntable in the access position as best seen in Figure 1.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the side edges 32 of the carrier are slidably received in the channel like guides 33 for facilitated selective disposition of the carrier. Because the drive mechanism depends from the tray 19 into lower portion 30, the tray is not extendable out of the cavity beyond the position shown wherein the depending mechanism 27 contacts a front wall 30 of the lower cavity portion.
The invention comprehends a novel means for driving the turntable so as to rotate the turntable during the heating operation. More specifically, as best seen in Figure 3, the turntable 18 is driven by means of a flexible shaft, or sheathed cable, 20, preferably nonmetallic, having one end 21 connected -to a speed-reducing gear unit 22 which, in turn, is driven by the fan motor 17. The other or distal end 23 of -the flexible shaft is connected by conventional means for corotation with a drive gear 24 which meshes with peripheral teeth 25 of a drive plate 26 of a drive mechanism generally designated 27.
A hub portion 28 of a drive plate 26 extends through an opening l9a in shelf 19. Mounted in the hub portion 28 of the drive plate 26 is a one-way clutch 29 of conventional constxuction, to which is connected a depending pin 3~ of the turntable 18. A snap ring or the like device 28a retains the hub portion 28 in opening l9a of carrier 19. The turn--table is slidably supported on the hub portion 28. As best seen in Figure 3, the edges 32 of the carrier extend upwardly to adjacent,the upper surface of the turntable so that the turntable is effectively recessed in the carrier.
As further shown in Figure 3, the distal end 23 of the flexible shaft is mounted to the carrier by means of a connector 34 which underlies the carrier and engages a depend ing boss 35 on the carrier. The connector 34 may be formed as an intergral part of the cable sheath. Thus, as seen in Figure 2, the flexible shaft distal end 23 moves with the carrier between the heating and access positions, with the flexible shaft freely accommodating this movement. Connector 34 secures the distal end of the shaft to the carrier so that a positive engagement is maintained between the shaft 23 and gear 24. A snap ring 31 maintains the relative engagement of the tooth edge portion 25 of the gear plate 26 with drive gear 24.
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One-way clutch 29 permits the user to rotate the turntable when in the access position to facilitate placement and removal of the food product on the turntable.
When the turntable is returned to the full line position oE Figure 2 inside the oven cavi-ty 12 and upon movement of the cabinet door D to the closed position thereacross, control 15 may be operated to effect energization of the generator and initiation of the heating operation. ~t this time, the operation of fan motor 17 is automatically initiated so that the turn-table is driven throuyh the flexible shaft 20 to effect improved uniform heating of the food product placed on the turntable.
Referring now to the ernbodiment of Figures 4 and 5, a microwave oven structure 110 includes a modified form of mechanism gererally designated 127 for driving a turntable 118 is shown to comprise an intermediate table 136 provided with a drive pin 130 driven through one-way clutch means 29 by hub portion 28 of the gear plate 26. The intermediate table is provided with suitable peripherai wheels 137 on which ~he turntable 118 rests. As further illustrated in Figure 5, the turntable is provided with a depending central post 138 extending through an opening 139 in the center of the intermediate table 136. Pin 130 is spaced radially from the post 138 and, thus, the turntable is caused to concurrently rotate about the axis of pin 130 while revolving thereabout as a result of the eccentric disposition of the connecting post 138 relative to the axis of pin 130. This action is best seen in Figure 4 wherein the broken circle 140 illustrates the path of movement of the post 138 about the axis oE the pin 130.
The resultant eccentric movement of the turntable is illustrated in broken lines 141 and 142 in Figure 4.
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Referring now to the embodiment of Figures 6-9, a microwave oven structure 210 includes a food support 218 comprising a rectangular tray. The tray is movably supported on -two palrs of rollers 243 and 243' at the side edges of 244 and 245 of a wheel frame generally designated 246.
Frame 246, in turn, is supported on a shelf or carrier 247sl~deable in horizontal gui~es 33 by two additional pairs of rollers 248 and 249 at the front edge 250 and rear edge 251, respectively, of the frame.
ShelE 247 is provided with a pair of spaced, parallel, upstanding L-shaped guides 252 and 253, which cooperate with complementary projecting slides 254 and 255 on the front edge 250 and rear edge 251 of the frame 246 to define a guide means for limiting the movement of the frame 246 to a reciprocal movement parallel to the front edge 250 and rear edge 251 of the frame. Thus, the wheel frame 246 acts as a truck for carrying the table support 218 for transverse reciprocal movement on the baseplate 247 in an effectively recti.linear transverse path.
As further seen in Figure 6, support 218 is nrovided with a pair of depending L-shaped guides 256 and 257 which cooperate with projecting slides 258 and 259 on the side edges 244 and 245, respectivel.y, of the truck frame 246 to defin~
guide means for limiting movement of the support plate 218 to reciprocal movement parallel to the longitudinal extent of the side edges 244 and 245 perpendicular to the movement of the truck frame on the baseplate, as discussed above.
Movement of the support plate in the oven cavity is effected by the revolution o F a crank pin 260 about the rotational axis 261 of a crank 262. The crank pin projects PA-513~-0-R~-USA
into a downwardly opening recess 263 defined by an annular wall 264 depending from the underside of the support pla-te 218. The crank pin 260 comprises a roller which rolls about the inside surface of the annular wall, as shown i.n Figures 7, 8 and 9. The path of movement of the roller crank pin 260 is illustrated in the broken line circle 265 of Figures 7 and 8. As the movement of the truck frame 246 is constrained by the cooperating guides 252, 253 and slides 254 and 255, and the movement of the support plate on the truck frame is constrained by the coaction of the guides 256 and 257 and slides 258 and 259, the movement of the support plate relative to the baseplate 247 is effectively polygonal, and more specifically, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, defines a square movement path, as illustrated by the arrows 266 in Figure 7 and 267 in Figure 8.
Thus, a large object, such as a fowl or the like, to be cooked in the oven cavi-ty may be placed diagonally on the support table 218, with the polygonal movement of the support table effecting uniform heating thereof in a novel and simple manner.
As described before, the rotation of crank 262 may be effected in a manner similar to the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 by connection thereof to the distal end of the flexible shaft for improved facilitated driving of the support table and sliding movement of the shelf 247.
Each of the oven structures 10, 110 and 210 provides an improved table suppoxt movement in the oven cavity.
Structures of embodiments 110 and 210 which are similar to structures of embodiment 10 are identified by similar refer-ence numerals but 100 respectively higher. Except as dis-
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cussed above with respect to the modified embodiments 110 and 210, each of the embodiments functions in a similar manner.
The foregoirlg disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.
cussed above with respect to the modified embodiments 110 and 210, each of the embodiments functions in a similar manner.
The foregoirlg disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.
Claims (16)
1. In a microwave oven having wall means defining an oven cavity, microwave generator means for delivering microwave energy to said cavity, a motor, a fan driven by the motor for cooling the generator means during operation thereof, and a food support, the improvement comprising:
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity; and a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support during operation of the fan motor.
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity; and a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support during operation of the fan motor.
2. The microwave oven structure of claim 1 wherein said support mounting means comprises means for permitting lateral translation of the support by said mechanism.
3. The microwave oven structure of claim 1 wherein said support mounting means comprises means for permitting lateral translation of the support by said mechanism con-currently with rotation thereof.
4. The microwave oven structure of claim 1 wherein said support mounting means comprises means for permitting lateral translation of the support by said mechanism in a substantially straight-sided closed path.
5. In a microwave oven having wall means defining an oven cavity, microwave generator means for delivering microwave energy to said cavity, a motor, a fan driven by the motor for cooling the generator means during operation thereof, and a food support, the improvement comprising:
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity;
a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried on said support;
and means for selectively manually positioning said support for facilitated placement of food thereon and subsequent movement by the shaft-driven mechanism.
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity;
a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried on said support;
and means for selectively manually positioning said support for facilitated placement of food thereon and subsequent movement by the shaft-driven mechanism.
6. The microwave oven structure of claim 5 wherein said selective positioning means effectively defines a one-way clutch.
7. The microwave oven structure of claim 5 wherein said selective positioning means effectively defines a one-way clutch connecting the support to the mechanism.
8. In a microwave oven having wall means defining an oven cavity, microwave generator means for delivering microwave energy to said cavity, a motor, a fan driven by said motor for cooling the generator means during operation thereof, and a food support, the improvement comprising:
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity;
a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried on said support;
a carrier mounting said mechanism and support; and means for mounting said carrier for selective movement of said support and mechanism from and into said cavity with said flexible shaft distal end freely moving therewith.
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity;
a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried on said support;
a carrier mounting said mechanism and support; and means for mounting said carrier for selective movement of said support and mechanism from and into said cavity with said flexible shaft distal end freely moving therewith.
9. The microwave oven structure of claim 8 wherein said carrier mounting means comprises slide means.
10. The microwave oven structure of claim 8 wherein said shaft distal end extends under said carrier.
11. In a microwave oven having a cavity, means for generating electromagnetic energy within said cavity, and a blower means driven by a motor outside said cavity for circulating air within said cavity, a platform for receiving food to be heated by said energy within said cavity, said platform comprising:
a table;
mounting means within said cavity supporting said table for movement in a horizontal plane;
a flexible cable extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, said cable being rotatable about said longitudinal axis;
means drivingly connecting said first end to said table; and means drivingly connecting said motor to said second end, whereby said motor rotates said cable to provide said movement in said table.
a table;
mounting means within said cavity supporting said table for movement in a horizontal plane;
a flexible cable extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, said cable being rotatable about said longitudinal axis;
means drivingly connecting said first end to said table; and means drivingly connecting said motor to said second end, whereby said motor rotates said cable to provide said movement in said table.
12. In a microwave oven having a cavity, means for generating electromagnetic energy within said cavity, and a motor driven blower means adjacent said cavity for circulating air within said cavity, platform means for receiving food to be heated by said energy within said cavity, said platform means comprising:
a shelf movable from a first position to a second position;
a table superjacent said shelf, said table movable in a horizontal plane;
mounting means within said cavity supporting said table on said shelf for said horizontal movement; and motor driven means drivingly connected to said table when said shelf is in said first position.
a shelf movable from a first position to a second position;
a table superjacent said shelf, said table movable in a horizontal plane;
mounting means within said cavity supporting said table on said shelf for said horizontal movement; and motor driven means drivingly connected to said table when said shelf is in said first position.
13. In a microwave oven having wall means defining an oven cavity, a microwave generator means for delivering microwave energy to said cavity, a fan motor, a fan driven by said motor for cooling the generator means during operation thereof, and a food support, the improvement comprising:
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity; and a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support in a substantially straight-sided closed path during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried in said support, said mechanism including a baseplate, a rectangular truck member having parallel front and rear edges and parallel side edges, a pair of wheels at each of said edges, cooperating guides on said baseplate and truck member for guiding said truck member for wheeled movement on said baseplate reciprocally parallel to said front and rear edges by the wheels at said front and rear edges, cooperating guides on said truck member and support for guiding said support for movement on said truck member reciprocally parallel to said side edges by the wheels at said side edges; and means driven by said distal end for urging said support to move in a path permitted by said guides and wheels.
a flexible shaft having one end driven by the fan motor, and a distal end;
means for movably mounting the support for supporting food in the cavity; and a mechanism connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft for moving said support in a substantially straight-sided closed path during operation of the fan motor to cause uniform distribution of microwave energy to the food carried in said support, said mechanism including a baseplate, a rectangular truck member having parallel front and rear edges and parallel side edges, a pair of wheels at each of said edges, cooperating guides on said baseplate and truck member for guiding said truck member for wheeled movement on said baseplate reciprocally parallel to said front and rear edges by the wheels at said front and rear edges, cooperating guides on said truck member and support for guiding said support for movement on said truck member reciprocally parallel to said side edges by the wheels at said side edges; and means driven by said distal end for urging said support to move in a path permitted by said guides and wheels.
14. The microwave oven structure of claim 13 wherein said guides comprise rectilinear slide elements.
15. The microwave oven structure of claim 13 wherein said support urging means comprises a force member driven in a circular path and engaging a reaction member on the support defining an annular wall having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said path.
16. The microwave oven structure of claim 13 wherein said support urging means comprises an upright force member driven in a circular path and engaging a reaction member on the underside of the support defining an annular wall having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said path.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US336,769 | 1982-01-04 | ||
| US06/336,769 US4424431A (en) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-01-04 | Turntable drive for a microwave oven |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1192265A true CA1192265A (en) | 1985-08-20 |
Family
ID=23317576
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000409744A Expired CA1192265A (en) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-08-19 | Turntable drive for a microwave oven |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4424431A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1192265A (en) |
Families Citing this family (21)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2162728A (en) * | 1984-08-01 | 1986-02-05 | Thorn Emi Domestic Appliances | Cooking apparatus |
| FR2571918B1 (en) * | 1984-08-03 | 1989-02-10 | Pellissier Jean Pierre | MICROWAVE APPARATUS FOR DEFROSTING OR HEATING A BIOLOGICAL LIQUID |
| US4636605A (en) * | 1985-07-17 | 1987-01-13 | Rubbermaid Incorporated | Mode stirring turntable for microwave oven |
| JPH0443993Y2 (en) * | 1986-03-06 | 1992-10-16 | ||
| JPS636771A (en) * | 1986-06-27 | 1988-01-12 | 今西金属工業株式会社 | Turn-table driver of microwave oven |
| US4714811A (en) * | 1986-07-18 | 1987-12-22 | Jova Enterprises, Inc. | Microwave oven and method with controlled heating profile |
| FR2636409B1 (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1994-02-25 | Equipement Menager Cie Europ | COOKING APPLIANCE COMPRISING A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL COOKING ENCLOSURE WITH A MICROWAVE SOURCE |
| DE3929805A1 (en) * | 1989-09-07 | 1991-03-21 | Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | OVEN FOR TREATMENT OF FOODSTUFFS |
| US5229565A (en) * | 1990-01-05 | 1993-07-20 | Thomson Electromenager | Microwave oven with rotating tray |
| FR2656918B1 (en) * | 1990-01-05 | 1998-01-02 | Thomson Electromenager Sa | MICROWAVE OVEN WITH TURNTABLE. |
| KR920005820B1 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1992-07-20 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Tray rotation apparatus for microwave oven |
| FR2677853A1 (en) * | 1991-06-20 | 1992-12-24 | Bongrain Sa | Defrosting method and device |
| US5345068A (en) * | 1992-04-20 | 1994-09-06 | Hitachi Hometec, Ltd. | Cooking oven with rotatable and horizontally movable turntable |
| GB9411971D0 (en) * | 1994-06-15 | 1994-08-03 | Fletcher David J | Shaker device |
| FR2768494B1 (en) * | 1997-09-18 | 2000-04-21 | Moulinex Sa | ROTATING TRAY PLATE FOR MICROWAVE OVEN |
| WO2005009083A1 (en) * | 2003-07-23 | 2005-01-27 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Microwave oven |
| KR100595579B1 (en) * | 2005-01-04 | 2006-06-30 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Turn table apparatus of microwave oven |
| EP2059092A1 (en) | 2007-11-06 | 2009-05-13 | Whirpool Corporation | Microwave oven with a tray moving in an orbital pattern |
| US20090236332A1 (en) * | 2008-03-18 | 2009-09-24 | Adams Steven L | Microwave oven turntable apparatus |
| US9383108B2 (en) * | 2012-06-27 | 2016-07-05 | Albert Touma | Removable oven for grill |
| DE102017126620A1 (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2019-05-16 | Accuride International Gmbh | Telescopic rail for a microwave oven |
-
1982
- 1982-01-04 US US06/336,769 patent/US4424431A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1982-08-19 CA CA000409744A patent/CA1192265A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4424431A (en) | 1984-01-03 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |